GETTING STARTED

Your first request.

Create your ZRouter account, choose how to fund requests, and connect through the gateway API.

1. Create your account

Sign up with your email and a password of 12–72 bytes, or choose Google or GitHub when available on the sign-in screen. After signing in, you’ll open your personal dashboard. New accounts start with $0 credit.

2. Choose your funding method

For gateway-funded requests, open Billing & credits and buy $5 or more of USD credit. Credits are added after payment confirmation.

Alternatively, save a supported provider key under Bring your own keys and use BYOK on your requests. Your provider bills you directly, and any ZRouter routing fee uses your ZRouter balance. See current rates.

3. Create an account API key

Open API keys, give your key a name, and create it. Copy the secret when it appears; saved key secrets are not shown again. Store it securely and revoke it if exposed.

4. Select an available model

Open Models and copy an available model identifier. Use the provider-qualified identifier shown in your workspace, such as PROVIDER_INSTANCE/MODEL_ID. A model listed in an example may not be enabled in your workspace.

5. Send a chat request

Use the ZRouter API URL below and replace the API key and model placeholders with values from your dashboard.

curl 'https://zrouter.si/v1/chat/completions' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ZROUTER_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "PROVIDER_INSTANCE/MODEL_ID",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
    "max_tokens": 256
  }'

For BYOK, also add -H "X-ZRouter-BYOK: true" after saving a key for the selected provider. You can make a similar request in Playground using an account API key.

6. Check your account

Review token usage and available request logs in the dashboard. Open Billing & credits to see the actual balance changes. Usage cost estimates and ledger charges can differ.